SALEM, Oregon — Democratic state Senator Kayse Jama has won re-election to Oregon’s 24th Senate District, retaining his seat after running without a named opponent in the Nov. 3 election.
Jama, whose family roots are in Somaliland, represents East Portland, Damascus and Boring in the Oregon State Senate.
His return to the legislature extends a political career that began with his appointment to the Senate in January 2021. He subsequently won election in November 2022 before fellow Democrats elected him Senate majority leader in November 2024.
A former refugee, Jama settled in Portland in 1998 after fleeing civil war. He worked at Lutheran Community Services Northwest, helping newly arrived refugees adapt to life in the United States, before co-founding the Center for Intercultural Organizing in 2003. The organisation later became Unite Oregon.
His official legislative biography identifies him as the first former refugee, Black Muslim and Somali-American to serve in the Oregon State Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Marylhurst University.
The election comes weeks after Jama announced that he would not seek another term as Senate Democratic caucus leader. He will continue serving as a senator, with affordability, economic opportunity and worker protections among his stated priorities.
“Affordability and economic opportunity are crucial in the lives of my constituents and the lives of all Oregonians,” Jama said in an October statement.
He said his legislative work would focus particularly on fair pay and workplace protections for vulnerable workers.
Jama previously chaired the Senate Committee on Housing and Development and currently chairs the Committee on Rules and Executive Appointments.
Senate Democrats are scheduled to elect their next leadership team on Nov. 13.
